Now I just look like a fool...:(

A good, firm handshake with eye contact is always better than a limp one with no eye contact. No one can really deny that.

I think Mort-Hog is getting riled up because most of you seem to believe things like a good handshake and personality are "REALLY IMPORTANT" i.e. placing it above credentials in terms of importance. For example...









etc etc...

For getting a respectable job, credentials are EVERYTHING. Everyone coming into that room for the interview, unless they are completely retarded, will by default have a good handshake and try to project positive energy. I haven't met a single educated person familiar with Western culture who had a bad handshake since the end of high school. Thus, the only way to distinguish yourself at that point is with your credentials. I don't deny that being personable and having a good handshake are important. However, it's extremely easy to pull off a decent handshake, so if you think about it, it's very naive to be judging someone based on it anyway. It's like saying having decent hair is important. Everyone can make their hair look decent and presentable, and no one's going to give a decent job to someone who comes in sporting a neon green mohawk... but who the **** goes into an interview with a mohawk?

Secondly, as for personality, it's really only important during your employment and if you want to move up the corporate hierarchy. Even then it's really more about your job performance than anything else, unless you guys are talking about low-level blue collar jobs (but I don't give two ****s about those). Do you know how many upper-level management people are considered conceited overbearing pricks?

Thirdly, credentials mean a lot. Everyone I know who has great credentials (very high GPA, good school, active in various organizations, sports, etc) has been personable, helpful, smart, and hardworking. The numbers rarely lie, and if they do, it's the exception to the rule. I have a couple friends at MIT and Caltech who approach everything in their life with as much vigor as they do with their studies. People who fail at school usually fail at other aspects in life. The cum laudes of my graduating class went on to get great jobs or fellowships, EASILY. The ones who got Bs and Cs? Yeah, they're easy-going and fun to hang out with. They probably have good handshakes, heh. Anyway, they ended up getting jobs at decent consulting firms, surprisingly. Had they gone to a State University of Bum**** Nowhere, I'm pretty sure they would be living in their parents' basements right now.

If a "good handshake" and "great personality" are the only things on your resume, I'm sorry.

to his credit, it some cultures firm hand shakes and eye contact are rude

but we dont live there.

All this hand shake is important stuff.... are you guys from the 1950's??
Handshakes haven't been important for a very long time now, unless you're trying to get a job from someone who lived in that era.

Hell, a handshake wasn't even involved in half the jobs I've had.

uhh, thats his title jlee.

>.> <.<

Care to list these jobs?

That's funny- I think it was involved in every job I've had.


Uh...dude..that's the point. It's not difficult. Some people (i.e. mort) are wayyyy overthinking this. As stated already in this thread, all else being equal, Mr. NoEyeContactLimpWrist is not going to be the guy getting hired. Especially in a job that requires any self-confidence or customer contact.

Well I think burger king would hire him to work in the back.

Making limp bizkit's?

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

Oh, and then there's the 'Indian clothes-salesman based in random south-eastern asian country' handshake, which involves holding out a sooky down-turned palm, then trying to drag the prospective customer into their shop by the hand. Dodge that one, especially if there's a lot of yelling of "new suit".

"I’m gonna go get a new soda. Hey, you know that you can get a refill on any drink you want here, and it’s free?"

"It's a wonderful restaurant!!!"

ITT: handshake is serious business

Just to play devil's advocate a bit here, what happens if someone has carpal tunnel, arthritis, a sprained wrist or even just really poor grip strength?

I'm not saying confidence isn't important, but a handshake doesn't really mean anything.

A handshake is only part of confidence and appearance. If someone can't help a poor handshake, they should work on other aspects. If they get judged poorly by someone because of it, sucks for them.

A handshake is something you can work on. If you have a crappy handshake, it can be fixed with minimal effort.

I'm pretty sure things like carpal tunnel / arthritis / sprained wrists are medical problems that are written down on applications before you interview, and are especially medical conditions that are looked at VERY closely in the business world (seeing as your hands are incredibly important). So unless you are assuming that the employer will go out of his way to be cruel and to shake your hand even though you have a medical condition, I don't think your point really matters.

If I had really poor grip strength, I'd mention it. i'd say "sorry, I'd shake your hand firmer, but I don't have much strength in my hands". That would probably really impress them.

or it might turn them on

Ok, if the job requires keyboard and mouse work, you probably wouldn't apply if you had arthritis.

Also, what jobs are you applying for that ask for that sort of medical history? None of the applications I've ever seen have asked for it.



Can you please direct me to the minimal effort fixes for arthritis?

Medical conditions aside, wiseass.

Oh baby!

Depends on what you're doing. IIRC, my application asked for all medical conditions.

You're a cop right? I stand corrected, I remember now that police, army etc all want detailed medical histories (which is fair enough).

wish granted!!!